Problem with Arc4

[gregw]

OK.. Arc4 gurus, here's one for you..

I just bought an Arc4+ Rev1 Premium.. Everything works, but the problem is, the first time I click the button to activate it after leaving it alone for a few hours, instead of turning on, it will flash once, then the led will glow dimly for a few seconds and then fades.. It does not respond to any button clicks while the led is glowing dimly.

It will turn and latch on the 2nd time I click the button and from then on, everything will work normally.

Any idea what's going on?

 

[GJW]

Does this sound like your problem?

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Option: Semi-momentary Tactical Mode

The Semi-Momentary Tactical Mode changes how your light operates when it is turned off. A single click acts like a press and only turns your light on while the button is pushed. A double-click is used to latch your light on. Also, there is no visible Button Lock indication - your light remains completely dark when the button is pressed.

The Semi-Momentary Tactical Mode is a toggle setting. Setting it once turns it on while setting it twice turns it off. The setting is remembered across resets. The default setting is Off.

The Semi-Momentary Tactical Mode is the sixth menu item and is identified in the Options Menu by a short flash followed by a long flash.

 

[gregw]

Definitely not the problem. Symptoms occur only after leaving the light alone for a few hours and only on the first single click.

The 2nd single click latches the light on as per normal and from then on, the Arc4 performs normally. Semi-momentary Tactical Mode is OFF.

I have forced Primary on and my Primary is set at Level 10, which is pretty dim, so I doubt it could be a battery issue either..

 

[gregw]

Just measured the CR123 cell voltage at 2.96v, so the battery still has quite a bit of power left..

Also remembered that I've turned RFS off, if that is a concern..

 

[NewBie]

Weird. How does the switch feel? I assume navigating the menus is easy, so the switch is fine there? If it was just loosing contact, it would cycle through the new battery deal.

 

[gregw]

Switch feel is fine... so, I don't think it's a switch problem either.. Anyone else have any other suggestions?

 

[MoonRise]

Had something similiar happen with my Rev-1. The problem was some crud on the threads (not much crud either!) and on the battery negative contact disc. Cleaned everything off with a WD-40 dampened rag and the light went back to working well.

 

[gregw]

ok... Thanks for the suggestion... I guess I'll go and clean the contacts on this really well with some contact cleaner and see if it cures it..

 

[Gransee]

If that doesn't do it, send me an email and we will fix you up!

Peter

 

[gregw]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for chipping in.. I'll email if it still doesn't work properly.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[simbad]

I've had the same problem yesterday with my Rev2, going from level 7 to high the light went off and on for about half second, I ve opened the battery pack to clean the negative contact with a Q tip and now works perfectly.(the last time I have opened the light was like a month ago). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif

 

[gregw]

Thought I'd update this thread on my solution to this problem. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I cleaned out the contacts of my ARC 4+ with contact cleaner and cleaned out the grease on the threads. This got rid of the problem for a few days, but then, it started happening again, and this time, it was pretty much intermittant, and would happen at any time! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Anyway, around this time, I noticed that there was the sound of the spring rattling around when I shake my ARC4 and this was really starting to irritate me.. So, I opened the switch up and put in a thin pad of tissue paper at the top of the rubber piece before reassembling the switch.. This had the impact of making the switch to be slightly longer and giving better contact to the battery, and this seems to cure both problems! Now, there is no rattling spring sound, and the problem with my ARC4 not lighting up when clicked seems to have disappeared. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

So, it would appear that my problem was the switch was probably not strong enough to positively contact the battery at all times, and the ARC4 would intermittantly go into start up mode (dim glow on LED since I have RFS off) when I clicked the button.

 

[gregw]

Guess I was too quick to be happy.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I was just playing with my now functioning ARC4 and guess what, I DROPPED IT on the switch/button.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif And now, it turns on when the battery is screwed in and won't respond to any clicks.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif

This wasn't from very high either, only from about two+ feet, which is the height of the seat of my chair.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon23.gif I sure didn't expect my ARC4 to be this delicate... This thing REALLY needs a tail/button guard in a bad way if it is going to be this easy to damage.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rant.gif

 

[Gransee]

Hello Greg. Sorry you are having troubles there. Your latest experience sounds like a broken switch. Please send it in so we can fix it.

Peter